New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-16
SECRETARY WHITNEY ONA TACA7ION


HE TALKS OF TBx BOARD OF COAST DEFENCE THAT
He Is TO APPOINT, AND or THE DYNAMITE GUN
William Z. Whitney Secretary OF the Navy, came
from Washington yesterday and went directly to his
home No. West Ftty-se venth-st., where he was
seen by Tribune reporter last evening. Mr.. Whit
ney said that he bad begun q vacation which might
possibly last from ak TO ten weeks. He had lett the
business OF his Office a satisfactory condition, he
SAID; In better shape, indeed, than at any previous
time sinse he had assumed the control of tho Navy
Department Mr. Whitney expects to 90 to-day to
Bar Harbor where his family is, and will remain
there until September /. lie will then 20 to his
country home a, Len1x, where his stay will be in
definite TO length. The Secretary said that his
letters would be forwarded to Lenox, and business
OF any Official nature could be transacted there. nc
does apprehend. however. that ything not pro-
vded against will transpire.
The Secretary remarked that he had been consider
ing the makeup OF the board that he Is 10 appoint
under the act OF Congress appropra;ing $1,000 900
for coast and harbor detences and he had settled in
hs own mind who the members should be with one
exception. He intended to place upon this board he
said. the youna officers of the Navy who had been
receiving instruction for three four years at The
English school at Greenwich and the POLYTECHNIC
School OF Frame the permission OF the Bitsh ana
French Governments, and who were now aDout 10
return to this On this subject be remarked
that while he regarded the Naval Academy at
Annapolis the hest school in the world Tor the educa-
ton OF lin officers, the country has no institutions
corresponding the English and French schools Tor
the cducao. designing and constructing engineers
The Score sad he entertained great expectations
from the introduction OF this young blood into the
Construction Bureau OF the department
This board would be called upon to investigate the
various plans of coast and harbnr defence proposed
including torpedo boats, submarine boats, dynamite
boats AMI floating batteries 1t was an exclusive
field for examination. The most approved and TAR
reaching tests known to the scientific world would
be applied. and applied, far as be was able to
control them. with rigid imparnality. The names
OF The members of the board would be announced be-
fore the end OF the week.
The Secretary said that he proposed 10 give the
company which is building the pneumatic dynamite
torpedo gun cru ser opportunity TO show what 1t
could do. For that purpose he had besa looking
about TOR target for it. He had plenty of old
vessels hand, but they generally contained
machinery OF more or less value which 1t would
hardly do to destroy in so lsudable canse he
had. therefore, selected an old schooner belonging to
the Coast Survey which he had purchased tor 5000
A suitable place some where the harbUr would he
desi mated an september 10 the company would
have the chance to drop OF its dynamite shells on
the schooner people would be able TO see VII,
the effect would be. II the compsn' succeeds IN
destroying the schooner. 1t would uot prove IS
matter OF course that the sane result wou Id take
place II the sht II were thrown upon doube-r lated
ironclad suli. it would be something OF test II,
the other hand. the company should be uLable to
hit the schooner with their pneumatic gun or should
fail 10 destroy it alter striking it, then the question
would be definitely settled.